To kick off the Season of Creation 2025 at St. Francis NYC, our Laudato Si’ environmental ministry invites you to a special event. Dr. Lewis Ziska, a renowned scientist and author, will deliver a motivating talk entitled “Climate Change and Our Daily Bread”.

Dr. Ziska is currently an Associate Professor in the Environmental Health Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. After graduating from the University of California, Davis, he began his career as a Smithsonian fellow, then was the Project Leader for global climate change at the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines prior to a 25-year career at the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service. He has worked extensively on documenting the impact of climate change and rising carbon dioxide levels on human health through a botanical lens, including allergies, nutrition, plant-based medicine and pesticide exposure.

Professor Ziska will follow up his talk with a question and answer period. Afterwards, there will be an informal reception. This event will take place on Saturday, September 13 at 2:00 pm in San Damiano Hall.

For more information, please contact Father Brian here or call him at 212-736-8500 extension 232. All are invited! Please RSVP through the form below.

Prost! Grab your lederhosen and raise your steins—FrancisFest is back and better than ever! Join us for an unforgettable day of Bavarian cheer, featuring traditional German fare, craft beers, German Cocktails, live music, games, and festive fun for all.

Food & Drink: Feast on bratwurst, schnitzel, soft pretzels, sauerkraut, and other classic German dishes—washed down with the finest local and imported brews.

Games & Contests: Compete in stein-holding challenges, costume contests, and more fun surprises with great prizes.

Family-Friendly: Activities for kids, including face painting, puzzles, crafts.

Dress Code: Lederhosen and Dirndls Welcome! (You might even get a prize!)

Raise a stein to Francis Week, the fall season, fun, and friends. We’ll see you there—cheers!

FrancisFest 2025
Sunday, September 28 | 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
San Damiano Hall

Advance Tickets:

• $25 for Admission Ticket (No Collectible Beer Glass)
• $30 for Admission Ticket with Collectible Beer Glass

Tickets at the Door/Day of:

• $30 for Admission Ticket (No Collectible Beer Glass)
• $10 for Collectible Beer Glass Only

All Admission Tickets include food and drinks.
Ticketholders with the Collectible Beer Glass will receive the glass at the event.
All payments are non-refundable.

Purchase Advance Admission Tickets via the form below.

This year marks the 800th anniversary of The Canticle of the Creatures, one of the earliest works of literature in the Italian language and a spiritual masterpiece composed by St. Francis of Assisi. Join us for a thought-provoking talk that explores the historical, theological, and ecological dimensions of this beloved hymn to creation.

Through the lens of St. Francis’ poetic vision, we’ll reflect on his deep connection with nature, his radical sense of kinship with all living things, and the enduring relevance of the Canticle in a world increasingly aware of environmental fragility and interdependence.

• Discover the historical context and spiritual depth of the Canticle
• Examine how its themes echo through modern ecological movements and Pope Francis’ Laudato Si’
• Engage in conversation about how Franciscan spirituality continues to inspire action and awe today

Speaker: Fr. Xavier Seubert, OFM

Organized by: Converge@St. Francis Ministry and St. Benedict the Moor Fraternity, SFO

Laudato Si and the Canticle of the Creatures: The Poem, the Poet, and the Pope
Thursday, October 2 | Starts at 6:00 PM
San Damiano Hall

Admission: $10 to cover light refreshments

Registration Required. Register via the form below.

Come and bring your intentions to Mary, Untier of Knots after our weekday Masses Monday, Wednesday, Thursday (7:30am & 5:30pm) and Friday.

This holyday of obligation begins with the Vigil Mass on Thursday, August 14 at the 5:30 pm Mass and continue on Friday, August 15 at the 7:30 am; 12 noon and 5:30 pm Masses. Please note that the Friday 5:30 pm Mass will take place in the Lower Church.

Correction — parish offices will be open on Friday, August 15. We apologize for any confusions our previous communications may have caused.

Celebrate with us the Feast of St. Clare on Monday, August 11 as we lift our hearts in prayer and gratitude for her shining example of Franciscan joy and faith. Masses in the Upper Church at 7:30am, 12pm, and 5:30pm.

The following is Father Brian Jordan’s remarks for the August 10th Bulletin dedicated to St. Clare.

The Feast of St. Clare of Assisi is Monday, August 11. We will also observe her charism during this weekend of August 9 and 10. St. Clare was born on July 16, 1194 in the same birthplace as St. Francis in Assisi, Italy. She died on August 11, 1253 also in Assisi at age 59. St. Clare offers two magnificent lessons: 

First, the recognition of how important women are in particular both in the Franciscan story and her role in the Catholic Church. Although a contemporary of Francis of Assisi, St. Clare was the first female founder of a religious order who was allowed by the hierarchy to write her own Rule for the Poor Clare Sisters. That was extraordinary at that time. St. Clare founded a contemplative order, was an accomplished writer, a compassionate spiritual director, and a role model for women.

Second, St. Clare’s importance stems from the fact that she was the recipient of a powerful charism of her own­—a gift bestowed by the Holy Spirit of the Lord and given to her in a fullness and forcefulness that was hers alone. She was a counselor to many Popes, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, and fellow female religious.

Her story shows us what matters is not the effort to “draw down” from the spiritual wealth of others whom we admire as though only a supplicant’s sharing of another’s gift can make us good. What she shows us is that we need only have the courage to unlock what is within us, to spend our days powered by the graced anointing that we already possess.

Her insightful writings contain many beautiful and meaningful quotes that have been shared throughout the centuries. May I cite a few quotes:

1. “We are to become vessels of God’s compassionate love for others.” COMPASSION
2. “We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.”  VOCATION
3. “What you hold may you always hold. What you do, may you always do and never abandon.” MINISTRY
4. “Let the love you have in your hearts be shown outwardly in your deeds.” MEDITATION
5. “God will be your helper and best consoler.” CONSOLATION
6. “May neither bitterness nor a cloud of sadness overwhelm you.” MATURITY

Please join us from August 9 to August 11 to celebrate the female face of the Franciscan charism!